A LANDMARK Leamington tower block is soon set to be reduced to rubble.
Work is expected to start shortly on taking down Christine Ledger Square off Brunsick Street.
The 11 story block has stood empty since December 2022. Warwick District Council moved quickly to re-home residents after a fire service investigation found it fell “well below” acceptable safety standards and was too dangerous for residents to remain living there.
The demolition of Christine Ledger will be carried out using a controlled piecemeal approach, where the building will be dismantled step-by-step using heavy machinery. This method minimises noise, dust, and vibrations, ensuring safety for residents and nearby properties.
The work will be carried out as part of a four year contract costing in the region of £18million, which includes the demolition of other landmark district sites, such as multi-storey car parks, Covent Garden in Leamington and Linen Street in Warwick, together with other possible yet to be identified sites.
Following the 2017 Grenfell tragedy, which claimed the lives of up to 80 people, WDC carried out an extensive review of its blocks – which included Eden Court, Ashton Court and Southern Court in Lillington, Christine Ledger Square and Radcliffe Gardens off Brunswick Street in south Leamington, Westbrook House and Stamford Gardens near the town centre, and blocks on Binswood Street and Clarendon Square.
None of the nine blocks, which vary from six to 15 storeys, were found to have had the same cladding thought to have led to Grenfell blaze spreading so quickly.
After the review, WDC agreed to proposals which saw £2.5million spent on stamping out fire risks at the nine blocks, which included new front doors for around 400 flats and upgrades to fire alarms.
